Reds focused on what they have, not what they lost

6:25 PM,
Mar. 9, 2014

Written by

Paul Daugherty
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Sonoran Desert is all sharp edges. Rocks the color of dried blood are razors dotting the moonscape, their presence unbroken but for the occasional spiky, painful plant. The desert is naked truth, which makes it an ironic place for baseball in March.

There is nothing entirely truthful about spring training, save the tough judgments passed on prospects and veterans who need to be told it's time to go. Spring training is the time for universal good feelings; the sharp edges come later.

It wasn't a great winter for the Cincinnati Reds. They lost their most dependable starting pitcher and a ...